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Wonder if this could be a Portal target. Played for Dustin's brother, looks like he plays defense AND can shoot.

Excitement is building.

Now he can get with an organization that gifts a crap about him.

30/13 tonight - unfortunately, Iowa is eliminated and his G League season is done.

Watching Freeman play on prime and he is really playing well. Last 4 games averaging over 20 points and already has 19 points tonight in 3rd quarter with double double.

The irony I was referencing had to do with the increased NIL pool and their AD saying right after the press conference that they don't want anyone who is after the NIL money.

That to me would imply chasing a paycheck. I don't think anyone here is claiming that, especially after seeing his salary is pretty similar to Akron. In fact, he might have taken a pay cut once you factor in cost of living adjustments. If it was about just collecting a paycheck I imagine he could have left Akron a while ago. I imagine at some point in 9 years a school called and offered him more money than Akron was paying. Groce is a competitor and wants to win. He likely believes that CoC provides him a better opportunity to make a Sweet 16 run because they have a larger war chest of NIL money.

Charleston wasn't open at the beginning of this. He was allegedly offered the USF job. Wouldn't surprise me if he got word that Mack was their backup plan, let them go in that direction unless they met an absurd asking price, and went Charleston.

John wanted Butler, too. He wanted a lot of places that weren't Akron. I totally respect that - sometimes it is time to move on, and if his budget was getting cut, I get it. But I don't think Charleston was his target gig from the beginning of this.

Ironic since the CofC AD gave a fiery interview after the press conference and said that anybody who is chasing rhe money isn't welcome at CofC. There were reports that Utah and I believe NC State also gave John a call. Not sure how serious they were but there was interest. Fact of the matter is, John wanted Charleston. Their AD stating they didn't interview anyone else proves he knew John was a guarantee. Outside of discussing the alignment of our own administration, his decision isn't worth dissecting/wasting time on.

We view Groce as an elite coach but power conferences do not. His tenure at Illinois was a disaster. It looks even worse seeing what Underwood did there after they fired Groce. He wasn't mentioned for any P5 job aside from Butler. I think another mid-major like Charleston with a larger NIL budget was the best job he could get. He's still in a one-bid league, though, so his seasons are still going to come down to the conference tournament in March.

Yep, this is the biggest reason. I'm sure weather, fan support, and amenities all are positives, but if NIL CoC was offering was comparable to Akron no way he makes the switch.

He's a diplomatic guy. He's not gonna come out and be like "we can play our players double here hell yeah" But that's why

I don't really know if that's true, but if I was an incoming freshman I certainly wouldn't stay committed to a team where I don't know the coaches. After all I doubt Groce was actively trying to recruit any of those players while at Illinois so he had no relationships with them. I would either follow that coach to the new school or go to one of the other schools that was originally trying to recruit me. I imagine you would to if you were in their shoes. That's why coaching changes void NLI. Big Dog and Cheatham were graduating. I believe it was widely known Noah planned to transfer even if Dambrot stayed. I believe the same was true for Josh wanting to play with his brother at Robert Morris. As you mention the portal isn't what it is now so Akron was always in for a rebuild year. May have even played a role in Dambrot deciding then was a better time than ever to make the move.

I watched the brief from Groce's press conference on why he decided on C of C. I readily admit I see things thru Zip colored glasses, but his reasoning did not make sense to me. When he cited alignment in the administration I took exception that he has that at UA also. Nemer is making the changes necessary to thrive, B of T chairman Mike Saxon is nothing short of brilliant. Andrew Goodrich understands that athletics is an asset, not a liability and he is gaining the support he will need to right the ship with a greater budget over time. They are all working together. The history at C of C is no better than Akron's. John mentioned the stature of a degree from C of C. I am not qualified to say they are better or less respected than our degrees. Yet I know we have a slew of outstanding depts that grant highly respected degrees. I get the support of the community and the weather may be better than Akron's. That I grant. Still his reasoning for a change to a mid major in a lesser conference puzzles me. A person close to our administration told me John will get three times our NIL money, a far bigger budget and staff, and he is a big fish in a medium sized pond with no competition for resources. That is easier to swallow than what John said. I bear no ill will to John. He gave us 9 great years. I will always celebrate that and regard him in the highest terms. I just don't swallow his reasons for leaving to go to another mid major. He deserves better.

Only announced staff news so far has been Devan Morrow staying and Mike Allen following Groce.

If Ford ran the Defense, then who ran the offense? was it Groce or someone else. Do we need to hire an offensive coordinator. I know time will tell but any rumor as to his staff vs Groce’s. Like who are keeping and who is leaving

Bummer. I wanted him to stay with Kent. He's such a bad PG.

That would go against what some have said.

Hardman getting a NIL agent may be the first news of a departure. I wonder if that is a sign of Ford's style preference being defense-first.

Times were different then. Players couldn’t transfer and be immediately eligible. Much easier to reload immediately in today’s environment. I may be misremembering, but I think KD took some signees too.

Interesting to note, Campbell's head coach, who plays in the same conference as CoC, has stepped down to become an assistant coach at Louisville. He is very blunt in his letter saying he's leaving because the University isn't giving him the necessary resources to compete.

Tbh - how many games have we won as an underdog?

In case you haven't noticed it is happening at Akron now. We have exceptional people in all positions and they will work things out. They are doing it now.